Page 63 of Until Daddy

“Jamison. Please.” She fisted her hands at her sides, she needed to get a grip because soon she was going to throw herself at his feet, and she wasn’t that person. She didn’t beg people to stay where they didn’t want to.

His gaze was hard. Unmoved. Maybe she was as much of a game to him as he accused her of playing.

“No need to delay the inevitable. We’ll consider today the expiration date,” he announced, his voice as hard as his eyes.

The wall was there, fully erect and unclimbable. He’d made the call. He’d ended them.

She swallowed hard, bit back the tears that were threatening to fall and stood straighter.

If he wanted to go, fine. She wouldn’t beg or cry for him. No. If he wanted out, there was the door.

She stood in her kitchen while he quietly turned and walked out of her apartment. He didn’t even slam the door. The quiet click of it latching was worse. So much worse than an impassioned leaving.

He was gone.

She blinked, letting the tears fall.

He was gone. Just like every other man she cared for had left her.

Chapter 17

“Idon’t understand you.” Garrick leaned over his cheeseburger and nearly growled at Jamison.

Jamison popped a fry into his mouth and chewed slowly.

“What’s to understand? I told you, we had a deal. One month.” He shrugged, lifting both shoulders. The energy it took to act as though walking out of Carissa’s apartment three days ago hadn’t torn him into pieces was exhausting.

“Bullshit. I know you said that, I know you told her that, but I also know that you weren’t looking at that date as a real end date.”

“Maybe you don’t know as much as you think.” Jamison popped another fry in his mouth. Grease and salt, but it didn’t matter. Everything had lost its taste as soon as he’d closed the door behind him at her apartment.

Garrick leaned back in the booth, glaring at him.

“So, you’re not even interested to know how she’s doing?”

Of course he wanted to know. Not for one second had she left his mind. It was torment.

“I’m sure you’ll tell me either way.” He forced a casual tone.

“Jade has all but moved in with her. Oh, she’s playing like she’s fine. Much like the idiot you are being, but she’s not fine. For Christ’s sake, Jade had to remind her to shower before going to work this morning!”

Jamison wouldn’t let it get to him. She’d made the decision. She’d broken the rules and disregarded them. She’d taught him she’d been right. Relationships didn’t work. People lied, people had their own agenda, and they couldn’t get around that.

“She’ll be fine,” he reminded himself. He was not going to go to her apartment. He was not going to save her from her own misery—or himself from his.

“You’re an idiot, I swear. What happened with Barron? He called me yesterday to see if I was still considering the deal. I told him the same as before, not unless the location changed—but he didn’t even get frazzled. He just laughed and said my loss and hung up.”

“My father and I aren’t speaking, and if I have my way, we probably won’t again.”

“Does this have something to do with what you talked to Damien about?”

Jamison broke a fry in half and squished it, watching the soft potato center ooze out of it. “Yes. I’ve hired him to find my mother. Apparently, she didn’t just walk out on me. My father paid her to leave and never come back.”

“What?” Garrick dropped his burger back onto his plate. “He paid her off?”

“At first I was angry that she would take the money. But, she was leaving him, she’d have to go up against him for custody, and it was my father. I have no doubt that she had little choice, or at least thought she had none. Once I find her, I’ll find out for sure.”

“When did you find this out?”

---